Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-10-27

from the army with an honorable
record and an empty sleeve, people
wondered ii Ruth Gerrish would marry
him.
A man with one arm gone, and that
his right one, was only part Of man.
they argued, aud Ruth was girl who
had had offers enough to make her the
envy of less fortunate girls, or Mt least
girls who considered it good fortune
to have offers of marriage, and she
had refused them all till Rodney Craig
came.
She accepted the proposal he made,
because she loved him. But when he
had asked her in marriage he had been
a man with two strong arms. Now he
had come home with but one, aud this
set some persons to wondering what
she would do.
These persons were those who did
not know Ruth very well. Those who
knew her best never had any doubt
about the course she would pursue.
One day, shortly after his return,
Rodney Craig came to her, and as he
stood before her with his empty
sleeve folded across his breast, he saiu;
"When won your promise to be my
wife | was a strong two-armed man.
| felt equal to any task in life for your
sake, and because of my love. Now
everything is changed. | am what
men call wreck, for the good right
arm | depended on is now gone. !
have no right, under the circum-
stances. to hold you to the promise you
gave me then give back to You that
promise, Ruth, if YOU will take it.
She came and stood by his side and
looked up gravely into his face.
You loved me, Rodney, when you
asked me to be your wife?"
God knows | did! he answered
"And you love me uow?'
He did not answer this question in
words. The look in his ewes was too
eloquent to make speech necessary
Then why should | take back my
promise?' she asked.
Her face was as eloquent now as his
had been a moment ago His hand
was lying on the table at her side. She
put her hand in it in a way that said
many things, while her eyes We're
bright with n steadfast love and trust,
whose expression made her face so
fair that Rodney thought of some Of
Raphael's Madonnas IS She looked up
at him.
but have YOU thought Of the
changer he asked; this question is
one that must be well thought over,
Ruth. With my two arms could have
made your life one above all want,
even one of luxury, perhaps, after a
while. But with the arm | depended
ON most gone, why, you see how differ
cut il is, Ruth.
Il have thought of it all, Rodney
she answered softly: Il have thought
how much | night help you with my
two willing hands, When | gave my
promise. ID wa, fr all time, happen
what might, and / shall keep 1t, UNI
less. witha smile dimpling the face
that had never seemed So fair to
Rodney as at that moment, "unless
You have some better argument to
offer
.sYou know why | have said what |
have, he answered; Il want You be
cause | love YOU, and without you !
shall be a lonely sorrowful man all the
days of my life. But | felt that had
no right TO ask YOU to make such a
sacrifice for nae.
Il make no sacrifice" she said
simply; 'because | love YOU (Was
ever better or more logical argu-
ment puk in fewer word,?) "Weneed
not mention this matter again. told
YOU | would be your wife, God wiling
and | see no reason why | should not
be if Won want me. ! would marry
You if there was only enough let, OF you
10 hold your heart
After that there was no more SAID
about breaking the engagement But
ne would not consent to a marriage
until he had secured some employ
meut.
lie had applied for a government
clcrkship. but il began TO seem rs Il y
might be modern case OF Jarndyce
vs. Jalndvee. Once i'm while he get
"a letter. saving that it was quite pro-
hable he would secure the position AZ
soon as the proper action could nt
taken; the matter had been referred 20
| this or that departments and Woulu =,
| reported ON rs soon rs possible or i'll
/ had been turned over to this or that
official, who would give it prompt ut
I tcuuon, etc
So the weeks lengthencd into months
/ ana he waited and hoped. anu heaf'
| nothing definite, and the time when q
would De IN position To warrant hiH
/ i'm marrying Ruth seemed as far on g
/ ever.
She waited because he wanted %
but she would have married him any
.as F41